Name: Hereafter
ISBN: 9780062026774

Tara Hudson

Amelia, long a ghost, forms a strong bond with eighteen-year-old Joshua, who nearly drowned where she did and who awakens in her long-forgotten senses and memories even as Eli, a spirit, tries to draw her away.

Hereafter

Monicap

Oh, the Cheese!

Yeah, this book was REALLY cheesy. I think the whole trilogy is out, though, so I'll put the next two on hold at my library, because, despite the cheese, I sort of want to see what happens next.

Leah Patton

4.5 Stars. I really liked it!
I'll start first with what I liked about it.
The line in this book that really drew me was "Can there truly be love after death?" It was such a catching line that it made me pick up the book and read the back and synopsis, and let me tell you, after, I was hooked. Amelia's struggles and internal voice really moved me. She doesn't remember really who she is or why she is dead and wandering. The descriptions of this loneliness were really heartwrenching.
Tara Hudson's writing in general is pretty intense, although hard to adjust to at first, it hooked me and kept me reading until the last page. The drowning scenes and Amelia's scary "nighmares" and all the water also fascinated me, I guess because of my own complete terror of death by drowning. That is probably one of the worst ways a person can die.
And the best part of this story is most deffinitely the romance. Joshua is charming and made me fall in like from the first description. His fascination and acceptance of Amelia and the way he comes to Amelia when she needs him the most is really beautiful and intense.
The reason I just gave Hereafter 4.5 stars was a character named Eli Rowland. I hated him. I understand his importance to the story, but still. He was annoying.

Alexandra Mellas

Danielle H.

Can there truly be love after death?

Drifting in the dark waters of a mysterious river, the only thing Amelia knows for sure is that she's dead. With no recollection of her past life—or her actual death—she's trapped alone in a nightmarish existence. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but will him to live. Yet in an unforgettable moment of connection, she helps him survive.

Amelia and Joshua grow ever closer as they begin to uncover the strange circumstances of her death and the secrets of the dark river that held her captive for so long. But even while they struggle to keep their bond hidden from the living world, a frightening spirit named Eli is doing everything in his power to destroy their newfound happiness and drag Amelia back into the ghost world . . . forever.

Thrilling and evocative, with moments of pure pleasure, Hereafter is a sensation you won't want to miss.

I haven't read many ghost stories, but in a world currently being over run by vampires and werewolves, it was refreshing to read something different.

Amelia doesn't know much about herself, but she knows she's dead. However, she doesn't know how. Wandering lost in the hereafter, Amelia keeps having this reoccurring dream where she is drowning in the river under the High Bridge. But one day, she hears the THUD of a heart beat. Obviously it can't be hers, instead, it belongs to Joshua; a boy who appears to be suffering the same fate as Amelia. No matter how she tries, she can't save him. But, in a shocking instant, he opens his eyes and sees her. Amelia can't believe it. All the years she's been wandering the High Bridge, not one human had ever been able to see her. She quickly takes advantage of this and urges him to swim up. 

And as you can probably guess, the two fall in love. But, as always, there's a twist. Yeah she's dead, but that's not what I'm talking about. Joshua's family has a hidden talent: they're Seers. Basically, they're ghost hunters. However, Joshua was not intune with his talents until his brush with death. His grandmother, on the other hand, is very serious when it comes to exterminating ghosts and has the intent to exorcise Amelia the moment she lays eyes on her. Joshua, naturally, won't allow any harm to come to his ghostly love, which is kind of hard when you take into account his psycho grandmother and Eli. Oh right, Eli...haven't mentioned him yet have I?

Eli, well he's the dark, moody, evil bad boy and when I say evil, I mean evil. Most fictional bad boys are usually very attractive I suppose, but he is just plain nuts. What role does he play in this story? I could tell you, but then I'd be telling too much. Better to leave you all in suspense :P

Overall, this book was written beautifully. It was very descriptive and most of the time, I felt like I was with Amelia, along for the, beautiful yet terrifying ride. It leaves you with questions you'll want answered, but will unfortunately have to wait for. I also loved Amelia and Joshua together, even if it was a cliched forbidden romance.

I for one am very excited for the next book, Arise, to be released (sometime in 2012).

Jessica Nottingham

Amelia is a spirit, lost in the mortal world. Destined to relive the night of her death over and over. Not exactly the most pleasant existence. That is, until the night that she happens to rescue Joshua.

I know that there are plenty of paranormal romance stories out there, but I'd be lying if I said that this one doesn't stand out. Amelia's character is so perfect. She's sweet and lost, but downright fierce when she needs to be. I loved watching her wake up from the fog and become more aware of herself as the story progressed. Amelia's story has the perfect balance between being utterly heartbreaking, and yet full of hope at the same time. It will tug at your heartstrings, that's for sure!

Then there is Joshua. Wonderful and persistent Joshua. Want a guy who manages to be adorable without even trying? Here's your man. Dead set on being a part of Amelia's afterlife, apparently whether she wants it or not, he holds his own. The banter between these two and the stolen moments of closeness were too sweet for words. There were times when it was just so honest. Sure, they may be from two different planes of existence, but that doesn't stop them from being a perfect match for one another. Be warned, swoon worthy moments ensue.

Lest you think that Hereafter is just a book filled with romance though, let me sate your need for action! As Amelia remembers more about her past, the book really picks up pace. Ghosts who are "unclaimed" are apparently a no-no in Tara Hudson's ghostly afterlife. This allows her to weave a wonderful romance that pits two very different worlds against one another. Amelia's life becomes a tug of war between the living, and the dead. I cannot say enough how much this added to the overall story! Love is great, but love that is fated to fail? Even more delicious.

Let's be honest, I could go on about Hereafter for hours. However I'll wrap it up with the fact that while this may not be a new concept, Tara Hudson takes a story that has been done before and still manages to put her own gorgeous twist on it. Amelia and Joshua will make your heart soar, and then have you rooting for their continued existence together. Couple that with some all out action, and you have a book that is well worth your time.

Farah Khaled 

Unfortunately, I didn't like this book. At all.

It has been sitting on my shelf for 4 years and every time I decide to pick it up, I change my mind. Well, that was until today.

I think I would have liked this book more when I first purchased it 4 years ago. My reading preference has changed now and I'm more into mature YA/ fantasy books. And this book was the total opposite. 

I didn't like the writing, didn't like the dialogues and didn't feel any connection with the main character.

I don't think I will be continuing this series.

Caitlin Berger

This book started out really great but kind of declined as it went on. The story is only somewhat original and the romance between the two main characters is way too unrealistic. I think the author wanted to create some type of perfect teenage relationship, but it reflected nothing of real life (obviously disregarding the fact that the girl is a ghost). I also noted some subtle hints of misogyny buuut that may just be the feminist coming out in me. You're not missing much if you don't read this book, though if you do read it, you'll enjoy it enough.

Chiara Carbone

Vesselina

Menna Khaled

Aurien Smith

Kaela Childers

Cassidy

Can there truly be love after death? Drifting in the dark waters of a mysterious river, the only thing Amelia knows for sure is that she's dead. With no recollection of her past life -- or her actual death -- she's trapped alone in a nightmarish existence. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but will him to live. Yet in an unforgettable moment of connection, she helps him survive. Amelia and Joshua grow ever closer as they begin to uncover the strange circumstances of her death and the secrets of the dark river that held her captive for so long. But even while they struggle to keep their bond hidden from the living world, a frightening spirit is doing everything in his power to destroy their new-found happiness and drag Amelia back into the ghost world! forever.

Hereafter

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